Controversial Kaduna based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has attributed the surge in insecurity in the country to the deep socio-economic discrepancy in the society.
Gumi, in a Facebook post, spoke out again amid increasing security challenges in the country.
Giving his reasons for the rise, he pointed out that the country has neglected and ignored its underprivileged class for decades, creating a fertile ground for exploitation by foreign interests.
The cleric highlighted the deep socio-economic discrepancy in the society, stressing that the stratification has turned the country’s teeming youth into ready-made foot soldiers for those seeking to divide and rule, while plundering national resources.
“Nigeria, for decades, has ignored the underprivileged section of its society. There is a significant socio-economic discrepancy, and the society is stratified.
“This makes our teeming youth ready-made foot soldiers for any foreign interest trying to divide us and rule us. To plunder our resources while we are involved in a vicious circle of violence,” Gumi said.
He emphasized that the political class has remained inattentive to the plight of the poor, while the intelligentsia is held hostage by the daily struggle for existence.
“Unfortunately, the political class is unattentive while the intelligentsia is held hostage in the struggle for existence,” Gumi stated.
Gumi referenced a quote from Tupac Shakur, ‘How can the devil take a brother if he’s close to me,’ to underscore the need for closer integration of marginalised groups into the society.
In 2021, the cleric stated that he took proactive steps to bring some of these “uncouth elements” back into the national fold rather than allowing them to be exploited.
“I took the bull by the horns in an attempt to bring some of these uncouth elements back to our fold rather than letting them be exploited by the devil.”
He maintained that this approach remains the only viable solution to Nigeria’s security challenges, but it requires strong political will and determination from the leadership.
“I still believe this is the only way out of our predicament. However, it needs the political will and determination to achieve” he noted.
As the 2027 General Election gathers momentum with alignment and realignment, Femi Falana, Human rights lawyer, and the Yoruba Generalissimo, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, have both warned that Nigeria could end up having only one Presidential Candidate in the 2027 election if the Judiciary continues to interfere in political party affairs.
Both men said that the nation is gradually becoming a One Party State with the current political happenings in the country.
They made this assertion at the Fifth Year Memorial Lecture of Yinka Odumakin, the late Activist and former National Secretary of Afenifere held at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The event had in attendance the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olumide Fusika.
It was hosted by the President of the Oluyinka Odumakin Foundation, a baby of the Wife of the deceased, Dr. Joe Odumakin. In attendance, also, were the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, IPC, Lanre Arogundade, Agba Jalingo and Richard Akinola.
Delivering the memorial lecture, Falana asserted that court orders and conflicting judgments are being used to destabilise political parties and could lead to a situation where only one political party would present a presidential candidate in the 2027 election.
He spoke against the backdrop of Wednesday’s pronouncement of the Independent National Electoral Commission that it would no longer recognise the factions of the African Democratic Congress led by David Mark or Rafiu Bala.
The INEC based its decision on a Court of Appeal judgment, which directed the Commission to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a suit challenging the legality of David Mark’s leadership of the opposition party.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, further criticised the Judiciary for interfering in the internal affairs of political parties despite provisions of the Electoral Act prohibiting such interference.
Falana said: “Through the manipulation of Nigerian courts and senior lawyers, you may have only one candidate contesting the presidential election in this country.
“If that happens, Nigeria may not even need to spend money on a presidential election.”
He also warned that actions capable of undermining democracy could provoke unrest if Nigerians felt they no longer had a genuine electoral choice.
He urged civil society groups, labour unions and political activists to organise and defend democratic values, warning that unorganised protests could lead to anarchy rather than meaningful change.
“We must stop agonising and start organising in the interest of our people and democracy,” he said.
In the same vein, Adams warned that Nigeria was gradually drifting towards a one-party system, accusing those in power of using the judiciary to suppress opposition parties and the will of the people.
He said the situation reminded him of the political repression experienced during the military era and the struggle for democracy in the 1990s.
Adams: “We are moving towards a one-party system. Those in power are using the judiciary to suppress the will of the people. We may end up having only one presidential candidate in Nigeria if care is not taken.”
He urged Nigerians not to remain silent because their ethnic group was in power, noting that political power rotates and silence in the face of injustice could later be used against those who failed to speak up.
According to him, Nigerians must continue to speak against injustice and defend democracy regardless of ethnic or political affiliations.
He added that the best way to honour the late Odumakin was for activists and civil society groups to remain committed to justice, democracy and good governance in Nigeria.
Delivering a lecture titled, “Can Nigeria’s Democracy Work without Restructuring?” Falana said restructuring had already been taking place in the country, but largely in favour of the political class, especially state governors and members of the ruling elite.
According to him, Nigeria operated more like a federal system in the First Republic when regions controlled the police, courts and local governments, but the 1999 Constitution returned the country to a unitary system with more items on the Exclusive Legislative List.
He said, “In 1963, there were about 45 items on the Exclusive List, but today we have about 68 items. Practically everything is controlled by Abuja. What we have now is more of a unitary system than a federal system.”
Falana explained that some powers had been taken from the Federal Government through court cases filed by states, particularly on issues such as local government administration, Value Added Tax, and control of land.
Gani Adams
He noted that despite the agitation for restructuring, many state governments had failed to utilise the powers already granted to them, especially in areas like electricity generation, railways and prisons, which were moved from the Exclusive List.
He said, “Some of those who shout restructuring don’t believe in it. Electricity, railways and prisons were removed from the Exclusive List, but how many states have generated electricity, built rail lines or established prisons? None.”
Speaking on the debate over state police, Falana warned that the system could be abused by state governors to suppress political opponents, citing abuses recorded during the First Republic when regional governments controlled the police.
He said the Police Council, which includes the President, Inspector-General of Police, Chairman of the Police Service Commission and state governors, was supposed to manage the Federal Police collectively, but the body hardly met, leaving policing effectively in the hands of the President.
Falana also criticised the political class for cornering the country’s resources, especially oil blocks and solid minerals, alleging that a few individuals had become extremely wealthy through government allocations of oil blocks and mining licences.
He said illegal mining and smuggling of minerals were also contributing to insecurity in some parts of the country, as unemployed youths were being recruited into illegal mining operations and criminal activities.
As the controversy generated by the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to withdraw recognition from the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Council NEC of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, continue to rage, a former Director of Legal Services of the Commission, Oluwale Osaze-Uzzi has faulted its interpretation of judgment.
He insisted that the presence and/or otherwise of INEC at a political party’s Congress and Convention does not validate or invalidate the exercise.
The Source reports that the nation’s electoral umpire had on Wednesday April 1, 2026, through its National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, announced its discontinuation of the recognition of the Mark-led ADC leadership, citing a subsisting Court of Appeal judgment directing parties in the ADC leadership tussle to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of ongoing legal cases as a major reason.
But speaking on an Arise Television programme Friday, Osaze-Uzzi insisted that the Commission overshot its boundaries when it interpreted the Court ruling to include the withdrawal of recognition for both parties in the leadership conflict.
While admitting that he has not read the Court judgment beyond what is in the media domain, the former INEC legal Director noted that in interpreting what constitutes “status quo ante bellum” the Commission ought to have limited itself to the state of events before the court proceedings and outcome.
According to him, from available facts, it was clear that as at the time of the said judgment, the Mark-led leadership was already in place and, therefore, should be seen as the status quo that needs to be preserved pending the final determination of the case in Court.
He expressed disagreement with the Commission’s decision to axe the two contending camps in the leadership struggle- Mark-led NEC and the Bala Nafiu Gombe group.
“I think I disagree with the conclusions reached by the Commission. In its extrapolation and interpretation of the order, I have strong reservations.
” From what is in the public domain, the Court of Appeal judgment did not order the INEC not to recognize any of the factions.
“What it said was that all parties should ensure they do nothing to render the ongoing legal cases nugatory”, Osaze-Uzzi noted.
But according to him, the major aspect of the verdict- “that all parties should return to the status quo” – has been grossly misinterpreted by the Commission.
He emphasized that since the Court did not expressly indicate what should be the status quo, there are tendencies for the order to be subjected to varying interpretations by the parties concerned, including the INEC.
However, he explained that a correct and honest interpretation of the order will necessitate the revisiting of events pre-litigation and verdict, probably from July 2025 when some critical internal party decisions were taken.
Further speaking, he explained that what is essentially required of parties is to notify the Commission of its Congresses and Convention within the legal timeframe.
“However, whether INEC attends that convention or not does not necessarily invalidate it.
“The essence of monitoring is not to give validity or withhold validity, but to provide an independent report for the Court in the event of disputes” he added.
According to him, what is actually required is for the parties to notify the INEC, at least, 21days before the said Convention.
Nyesom Wike. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,
By Adesina Soyooye
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has faulted the action taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, against the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Recall that INEC had on Thursday, removed the names of the National Chairman and General Secretary of the ADC, Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola respectively from its portal.
INEC said by taking the action which affected the “two factions” of the Party, it was bowing to the ruling of the Court of Appeal.
Not a few people have, however, slammed the INEC for the action, insisting that the Commission was dancing to the tune being played for it by the All Progressives Congress, APC.
But Wike on Friday during his monthly Media Chat differed. He faulted INEC for also penalising the ADC faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe. According to Minister Wike, INEC should have recognized Nafiu Bala Gombe as the National Chairman of the ADC.
He said that the David Mark-led ADC should be happy that INEC didn’t recognize any of the party factions until they sort their matter in court.
Bala Gombe is seeking to be the National Chairman of the ADC.
INEC suspended any recognition of both factions within the party and will not monitor any conventions or congresses organised by the rival groups, pending the final determination of a substantive suit before the Federal High Court.
Speaking on the development.
But Wike said, “In my own opinion, INEC, by that judgment, ought to have recognized Bala Gombe as the ADC national chairman.
“ADC should be happy that INEC said, ‘Look, we are not going to recognize any of you until you sort your matter in court.”
The David-Mark led ADC which insists that Gombe resigned his position from the Party said it would carry on with its timetable for Congresses and National Convention inspite of INEC’s position.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has issued a timetable for its scheduled Congresses and Convention.
This is coming amidst a note of warning from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan, against the party proceeding with the said congresses and Convention without its input.
On an Arise Television programme Friday, April 3, 2026, the INEC Chairman warned that the ADC will be risking it all, including its electoral victory post-2027 polls, if it goes ahead with the planned congresses and Convention billed for April 9 and April 14 2026 respectively.
The INEC had, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, to the chargrin of not a few Nigerians, announced its discontinuation of the recognition of the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee, NEC of the ADC, pending the determination of all legal proceedings in relation to the party’s leadership tussle.
The implication of the freezing of all the activities of the party by the INEC, including its planned Congresses and Convention is dire.
But in a statement on Friday from its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC insisted that the party’s activities, including the Congresses and Convention will proceed as scheduled.
The party informed that it has already taken steps to give the Commission the legally required 21 days notice through its letters dated February 27, 2026, and March 28, 2026.
“This is to notify all party members that despite INEC’s illegal actions, the ADC will continue with its Congresses as scheduled, having duly notified INEC by our letters dated 27th February 2026 ,and 28th March 2026.”
According to the statement, the screening of aspirants would hold on April 7, with appeals arising from the exercise entertained on April 8.
Polling unit, ward and Local Government Congresses, are to be conducted on April 9 with appeals emanating therefrom, attended to on April 10.
The party’s State Congress will be held across the States on April 10, 2026, with April 11 and 12 fixed for hearing of appeals.
The national convention will hold on April 14 2026.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan has revealed that the Commission is trying to avoid mistake of the past whereby a winner of an election will be stopped by a Court order.
Amupitan has therefore cautioned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against proceeding with its planned congresses and national convention without the commission’s supervision.
Senator David Mark had at a press conference on Thursday vowed that ADC would proceed on its national convention with or without the presence of INEC officials.
This is coming on the heel of derecognition of chairmen and secretary of the two factions of ADC by INEC, citing a Court order.
Mark maintained that “we have our congresses starting on the 9th of April, 2026, ending with our convention on the 14th April, 2026. We have given due notice to INEC, and they have acknowledged receipt of that notice. This is what the law requires of us.
“Let us also make it clear: we are proceeding with our party programmes, because there is nothing under the law that makes INEC’s attendance, a mandatory requirement. We have duly served INEC notice, and we will proceed accordingly.
Amupitan issued the warning during an interview on Arise TV on Friday, following the party’s insistence on going ahead with its convention despite INEC’s derecognition of the leadership linked to Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola.
He stressed that INEC’s decision was guided by legal considerations, particularly an existing court order.
“So if they are going ahead with their congress, with their convention, it’s left for them to look at it, whether it is in contravention of the court.
“INEC didn’t just take a decision. We didn’t just wake up one day and took this decision. There was something that led to it. There was an order of court.”
According to him, the court had directed parties not to take actions that could undermine ongoing proceedings.
“Don’t do anything. Don’t take any step that will render any proceeding before the court nugatory,” Amupitan stated.
He explained that the issue of conducting congresses and conventions is already part of a pending legal process.
“So, if already they are asking that don’t do any congress, don’t do any convention, it is a relief that is being claimed. And especially they filed a motion for that purpose, that motion has not been determined,” he added.
The INEC chairman warned that disregarding court orders could have serious consequences, citing past electoral precedents.
“Let me tell you what happened in Zamfara. It happened in the past. We don’t want to conduct an election without this early warning, and at the end of the day, after you have won, the court again will come and declare the election invalid.
“And the implication is that the person with the second highest number of vote will be declared the winner,” he said.
He also referenced a similar situation in Plateau State, where failure to comply with court directives affected electoral outcomes.
“It happened in Plateau State during the last election… failure to obey the court order has consequences,” Amupitan noted.
While maintaining that the ADC is free to act as it chooses, he emphasised that INEC would not risk repeating past mistakes.
“They are at liberty to do whatever they want to do, but INEC do not want to go into this situation again,” he said.
Peter Obi, the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, has slammed President Bola Tinubu over his recent condolence visit to Plateau State.
Recall that the President went to Jos, Plateau State, Thursday, on a condolence visit after terrorists embarked on a killing spree in Angwan Rukuba Community of Jos, Plateau State, mowing down 28 people and injuring more.
But he ended up only at Jos Airport where he met mourning families of victims, pleading time constraint because Jos Airport has no night landing facilities. For that, he said he had only 10 minutes to spare.
In a post on X, Friday, Obi faulted Tinubu for meeting the victims at the airport instead of visiting the affected communith.
He dismissed the President’s action as lacking in compassion, and reminded him that true leadership requires physical presence and empathy in moments of crisis.
Obi: “What happened in Plateau yesterday (Thursday) highlights a complete absence of leadership. True leadership requires presence, empathy, compassion, and a willingness to meet people where their pain truly lies.
“For citizens who have just lost loved ones, homes, and their sense of safety, being addressed from an airport tarmac is profoundly inadequate.”
He recalled a similar visit by President Tinubu to Benue State in 2025, during which time Tinubu did not visit the scene of an attack in Yelwata.
Obi: “This approach exacerbates the sense of abandonment already felt by innocent Nigerians who have endured repeated cycles of violence without meaningful protection or justice.
“Plateau deserves more than distant words; it requires urgent action and a clear commitment to ending the insecurity that continues to claim innocent lives.”
President Tinubu in His
The Presidency, in a statement, defended the President. It explained that a visit by the Chadian President to President Tinubu took more time than thought. Inspite of the brief visit which ended at the Jos airport, the Presidency insisted it was very fruitful.
Nyesome Wike, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Minister, has dismissed suggestions that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC is trying to create a one-party state by destabilising the opposition in the country.
Wike is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP which has been torn apart due to the infighting among its leaders, who has in turn blamed the ruling party and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for its leadership crisis. The minister is leading one of the two factions claiming leadership.
The minister spoke in Abuja, the nation’s capital during his monthly media chat wit select journalists.
Wike’s remark comes on the heels of the recent decision of the INEC to de-recognise the David Mark-led National Working Committee, NWC of the top opposition party in the country, the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
The electoral umpire Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan said on Thursday that it acted based on a court order, saying the action is a blessing in disguise for the ADC, as doing otherwise could spell doom for the party in the 2027 election.
Reacting to the backlash that has trailed INEC action, Wike said
It’s untrue that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is trying to create a one-party state, noting that any party in power will do everything to be in control, citing the immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari which he accused of really dealing with the opposition.
The minister explained that he was a major target during the administration of President Buhari but stood his ground.
“ If there was anybody tormented by a government, it was me, and I never ran away. I was personally haunted under Buhari,” Wike said.
“We fought Modu Sheriff. We won at the federal high court. That victory was one of the reasons the government sent the SSS to impound Justice Leman at the Federal High Court.
“But I never ran away. I hired lawyers, and the matter went to the Supreme Court. That’s how we threw out Modu Sheriff.
“Under Buhari, this is what they did to kill PDP. All these people shouting, it is only when it does not favour you, which of them, including ADC, will say this government is tormenting him? Let nobody say that the EFCC has come after the governor; remember that Bala Mohammed had EFCC issues before he became a governor.
“If you are an opposition party, you know the government or the ruling party will always look for a loophole. That is politics,” the minister said.
President Tinubu had in response to the allegation by opposition political parties in the country, that he’s trying to stiffen them, described one of the parties, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as a sinking ship that members are ruining away from.
Critics of the government said President Tinubu is afraid of a free and fair election in 2027, that’s why he’s allegedly trying to destabilise the opposition.
The Presidency has said despite restricting his movement to the airport during recent visit by President Bola Tinubu to Plateau state, the visit achieved its aims.
It clarified why President Tinubu remained at the airport during his visit to Jos, Plateau State, attributing it to scheduling constraints and logistical difficulties.
The President met with the families of victims who were killed when gunmen attacked Angwa Rukuba in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday.
Speaking to the victims, who were brought to the airport to meet him, the President said, “You have no light at the airport, and I have to fly back within the next 10 minutes.
“To the victims, there’s nothing I can give you, whether it’s money in millions, but console you and promise you that this experience will not repeat itself.”
The hall was reportedly packed with political supporters, traditional rulers, security personnel, and others.
President Tinubu’s airport-only stay sparked widespread outrage, with critics accusing him of showing insensitivity to the grieving families.
Among the first to criticize was opposition leader, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who commented through his aide, Phrank Shaibu.
According to him, the event turned a human tragedy into a “choreographed spectacle”, putting optics above empathy and dignity.
However, in a statement on Friday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained that President Tinubu’s Thursday schedule originally included receiving the Chadian leader, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, at the Presidential Villa before traveling to Iperu in Ogun State.
“Following a security briefing from Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, the President canceled the Ogun trip and made overnight arrangements for an urgent visit to Jos.
“Despite the change, he could not reschedule the high-level bilateral meeting with the Chadian President, which focused on strengthening security cooperation between the two countries.”
According to the Presidency, the meeting ran longer than expected, delaying Tinubu’s departure for Jos.
“Upon arrival in Jos, the visit encountered some logistical challenges. While the road distance from the airport to Jos township is approximately 40 minutes, the runway does not support night flights due to the absence of navigational aids.
“The constraints made it unfeasible to drive into town, meet victims for on-the-spot assessment and return to the airport before dusk.
“Consequently, state and federal officials decided to bring representatives of the affected community to a hall adjoining the airport so the President could meet with them promptly while adhering to flight restrictions.
“Among the people in the hall were the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police, who had visited Rukuba, the epicentre of the conflict.
“President Tinubu deployed the high-level team to Rukuba, including the Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement, to undertake critical groundwork on security and community engagement, with a view to stabilising the area before his arrival.
“Beyond expressing his condolences to the victims, President Tinubu’s objective was to engage with critical stakeholders in Plateau State on ending the recurring, decades-old conflict that has resulted in needless loss of lives and property.”
Onanuga added that Tinubu’s visit to Jos was not merely symbolic, but “a strategic, high-level engagement aimed at bringing all stakeholders together to address the root causes of conflict and insecurity in the state.
“He interacted with the victims, consoled them, and listened to them. He also listened to local leaders and assured them that the federal government would deliver justice and end the cycle of violence.
“He promised the deployment of 5000 AI-enabled cameras to monitor the city and enhance the identification and arrest of troublemakers.
“Furthermore, the President invited the community leaders to Abuja for further talks on finding a lasting solution to the recurring violence in the state.
“The meeting, televised live, was solemn and reassuring, boosting residents’ confidence. President Tinubu achieved the purpose of his visit, despite the naysayers’ attempts to ridicule it.
“He dropped an unmistakable message: sustainable peace must be built with the people, not imposed on them.”
The state government has accused some unscrupulous enemies of plotting to hide under a political protest to cause problem in the state.
In a statement released by the Governor Alex Otti-led government, some political actors from the state are planning to stage a protest tagged: Tinubu Dey Work, Otti dey Chop” aimed at destabilising the state, saying the government is closely monitoring their plan with the aim of dealing with alleged trouble makers.
According to the statement signed by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, on Friday, the state issued a stern warning to resident not to take party in the protest, which it said is likely to cause a clash with security agencies, saying anyone caught will be held accountable, and the full weight of the law brought down on them.
Ekeoma stressed that the promoters of the protest are trying to hide under a false narrative that the projects being executed by the governor have been refunded by the federal government, saying there’s no truth in such, adding that nothing of such has happened lately.
Ekeoma: “The alleged plot is designed to trigger confrontation between the protesters and security operatives, particularly the State Task Force in Aba, which could escalate into violence, loss of lives, and a breakdown of law and order.
“The government warns that such actions may be part of efforts to create instability in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“While we reaffirm our commitment to democratic principles and tolerance of opposition, we will take decisive action against any individual or group found attempting to endanger public safety under the guise of political expression”
The magazine recalls that a former governor of the state, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu had alleged that Governor Otti has failed to perform despite the huge federal allegation to the state since he came into office.
